Adjacent Words

Swan definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SWAN, n. A large aquatic fowl of the genus Anas, of two varieties, the wild and the tame. The plumage is of a pure white color, and its long arching neck gives it a noble appearance.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult v
1: to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; "Before God I swear I am innocent" [syn: affirm, verify, assert, avow, aver, swan, swear]
2: move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment; "The gypsies roamed the woods"; "roving vagabonds"; "the wandering Jew"; "The cattle roam across the prairie"; "the laborers drift from one town to the next"; "They rolled from town to town" [syn: roll, wander, swan, stray, tramp, roam, cast, ramble, rove, range, drift, vagabond]
3: sweep majestically; "Airplanes were swanning over the mountains"

Merriam Webster's

or in its upper course Avon geographical name river about 240 miles (386 kilometers) SW Western Australia flowing W into Indian Ocean

Merriam Webster's

I. noun (plural swans) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle High German swan and perhaps to Latin sonus sound — more at sound Date: before 12th century 1. plural also swan any of various large heavy-bodied long-necked mostly pure white aquatic birds (family Anatidae, especially genus Cygnus) that have webbed feet and are related to but larger than the geese 2. one that resembles or is likened to a swan 3. capitalized the constellation Cygnus II. intransitive verb (swanned; swanning) Date: 1942 to wander aimlessly or idly ; dally III. intransitive verb (swanned; swanning) Etymology: perhaps euphemism for swear Date: 1784 dialect declare, swear

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a large water-bird of the genus Cygnus etc., having a long flexible neck, webbed feet, and in most species snow-white plumage. 2 literary a poet. --v.intr. (swanned, swanning) (usu. foll. by about, off, etc.) colloq. move or go aimlessly or casually or with a superior air. Phrases and idioms: swan-dive US = swallow-dive (see SWALLOW(2)). swan-neck a curved structure shaped like a swan's neck. Swan of Avon literary Shakespeare. swan-upping Brit. the annual taking up and marking of Thames swans. Derivatives: swanlike adj. & adv. Etymology: OE f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Swan Swan, n. [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG. swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and perhaps to E. sound something audible.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds belonging to Cygnus, Olor, and allied genera of the subfamily Cygnin[ae]. They have a large and strong beak and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a melodious song, especially at the time of its death. Note: The European white, or mute, swan (Cygnus gibbus), which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans of the genus Olor do not bend the neck in an S-shaped curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry, due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan (Olor cygnus), the American whistling swan (O. Columbianus), and the trumpeter swan (O. buccinator). The Australian black swan (Chenopis atrata) is dull black with white on the wings, and has the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a very graceful species and is often domesticated. The South American black-necked swan (Sthenelides melancorypha) is a very beautiful and graceful species, entirely white, except the head and neck, which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a double bright rose-colored knob. 2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of Avon. 3. (Astron.) The constellation Cygnus. Swan goose (Zo["o]l.), a bird of India (Cygnopsis cygnoides) resembling both the swan and the goose. Swan shot, a large size of shot used in fowling.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(swans, swanning, swanned) 1. A swan is a large bird with a very long neck. Swans live on rivers and lakes and are usually white. N-COUNT 2. If you describe someone as swanning around or swanning off, you mean that they go and have fun, rather than working or taking care of their responsibilities. (BRIT INFORMAL) She spends her time swanning around the world... VERB: V prep/adv

Easton's Bible Dictionary

mentioned in the list of unclean birds (Lev. 11:18; Deut. 14:16), is sometimes met with in the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

swon (tinshemeth, "chameleon," "tree-toad," "water-hen," "owl"; kuknos; Latin cygnus; Anglo-Saxon: swan and swon): Mentioned only in old versions and the Revised Version margin in Le 11:18: "the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle," and in De 14:16 Septuagint porphurion = "water-hen"; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) ibis). In the Revised Version (British and American) this is rightly changed to "the horned owl, and the pelican, and the vulture." A bird of the duck family wrongly placed among the abominations in old versions of the Bible, now changed to horned owl.

White and gray swans spend their winter migratory season on the waters of the Holy Land. They are among the most ancient birds of history; always have been used for food; when young and tender, of fine flesh and delicious flavor; so there is no possibility that they were ever rightfully placed among the birds unsuitable for food. Their feeding habits are aquatic, their food in no way objectionable.

Gene Stratton-Porter

Moby Thesaurus

alabaster, avifauna, baby bird, bird, bird of Jove, bird of Juno, bird of Minerva, bird of night, bird of passage, bird of prey, birdie, birdlife, birdy, cage bird, chalk, chick, cygnet, diving bird, dove, driven snow, eagle, eaglet, fish-eating bird, fledgling, fleece, flightless bird, flour, foam, fowl, fruit-eating bird, fulmar, game bird, insect-eating bird, ivory, lily, maggot, migrant, migratory bird, milk, nestling, oscine bird, owl, paper, passerine bird, peacock, peafowl, peahen, pearl, perching bird, pigeon, ratite, sea bird, seed-eating bird, sheet, shore bird, silver, snow, songbird, squab, storm petrel, stormy petrel, wading bird, warbler, water bird, waterfowl, wildfowl